Cease-Fire — Israel and Hamas Reach A Peace Deal
The 8-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, which resulted into hundreds of deaths, has come to an end, at least for now. The two regions have agreed to a cease-fire after Egypt, led by the Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, and the U.S. led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, intervened and pushed for a peace deal.
The cease-fire is set to take effect at 9 p.m. Cairo time, or 2 p.m. EST.
Mosques throughout Gaza broadcast messages welcoming the ceasefire, and praising the “resistance”.
“Celebrations until morning!” one Gaza City mosque broadcast over its loudspeaker, as hundreds of people gathered, many waving Hamas flags.
There were similar scenes of joy outside Gaza City’s Shifa hospital, where some also waved the Egyptian flag as they celebrated.
Members of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, participated in some of the celebrations, and were given a hero’s welcome.
One fighter, who gave his name Abu Abdullah, grinned as he fired into the air.“A little while ago we were firing our weapons and rockets at the occupation and the occupied cities from underground, and now are firing in happiness,” he said.
“Israel is an occupying country and will leave our land,” he added, saying he was confident that the truce would hold.
“Israel cannot violate the truce because any violation will be answered immediately,” he said.